Hold Me Close

By Iris Morland

After a messy break-up, police officer Matthew Haldon is fine living in his cabin out in the woods all by himself. He has his dogs to keep him company and his job to keep him busy.
He never expects to find love again, especially not with the woman he finds stranded on the side of the road during a blizzard. When Matt realizes that Holly Cook has nowhere to go, he invites her to stay at his cabin for the night.
Holly is dangerous, though: with her fiery red hair and her bubbly personality, she tempts Matt like no woman ever has. As the snowstorm rages outside, Matt and Holly share a night that neither will forget.
Yet Holly’s past isn’t about to let her go—and now, neither is Matt.
This title was previously published as Adore Me Ardently. It’s been rereleased with a brand-new look and with lightly edited content.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRIS MORLAND
• Release date: Jul 7, 2020

Iris Morland

Iris Morland is a coffee addict, a cat lover, and a writer who enjoys penning sparkling, swoon-worthy romances. When not reading or writing, she can be found binging Netflix shows and cooking something delicious.

Book preview

Chapter One

When Officer Matthew Haldon saw the flash of orange-red in his rearview mirror, he first thought it was a fox running about in this blizzard. When he peered more closely, he realized it wasn’t a fox: it was a person. A person most decidedly stranded in a ditch on the side of the road.

Matt had been on the police force for five years now, four of those here in the tiny Missouri town of Heron’s Landing. At the moment, he wanted to get home safely, put his feet up, and maybe drink some spiked cider. Sighing, he knew that wasn’t going to be happening any time soon. He slowly did a U-turn, the snow falling so hard that you couldn’t see more than foot in front of you. Living in a place like Heron’s Landing made driving in the snow both a blessing and a curse: a blessing, because you were often alone on the road; a curse, because you were often alone on the road.

After what seemed like an hour, he finally got to the car and the person trying to dig themselves out. He turned on his lights so no poor soul would run into him, and he tromped into the ditch.

Hello! he called out. Are you all right?

A head popped up from the other side, with that flash of orange-red again. Then, to his astonishment, the person turned out to be a woman, and not only a woman, but a gorgeous, red-haired woman who also wasn’t wearing a coat.

So not only was she beautiful, she was crazy.

Ma’am, do you have a coat? You’ll freeze to death.

The woman waded through the snow, laughing. I forgot my coat! Can you believe that? I packed everything but my coat. She brushed snow off of her long-sleeved t-shirt and shrugged. I’m more concerned about my flat tire, though.

Matt took in the woman, his chest constricting despite himself. She was rosy-cheeked, with the fullest lips he’d ever seen. She didn’t seem the least bit dismayed regarding her situation.

So, yes, a high probability she was crazy.

Let me drive you somewhere, he offered. It’s snowing too hard to put on a spare. Do you live around here? Matt knew everyone in Heron’s Landing, and this woman was definitely not someone he’d ever seen before.

The woman’s initial good cheer faded. She bit her lip. I was on my way to Kansas City. I don’t know anyone around here. Is there a hotel or something close by?

Matt considered. He could drive back to town—some ten miles, in a blizzard—or he could be a good Samaritan and let this woman stay with him in his house that was only a mile away.

You just want to spend more time with her, his mind reasoned, but he told his mind to shut up.

The closest hotel is ten miles from here. The woman’s shoulders slumped, and without considering it further, he added, But you’re welcome to stay with me. Until the snow stops. Then we can get a tow truck out here to get your car and get you back on the road.

The woman considered, her eyes narrowed. She walked toward him. How do I know you aren’t some serial killer?

He raised his eyebrows. I’m a police officer, ma’am.

That doesn’t matter. You could be faking being an officer just to lure unsuspecting women to your house.

In a blizzard? That seems like a lot of work to me.

She blinked away the snowflakes caught on her lashes, and then her face broke into a smile that hit Matt right in the gut.

Okay, I’ll take your offer. She thrust out a hand, and he took it. I’m Holly, by the way. You are?

Matt. Officer Matt Haldon.

Great. Now if you could just help me get my suitcase out from underneath all of this crap…

After wrestling with more crap than he could’ve thought could be stuffed into one woman’s trunk, Matt drove Holly back to his place. She shivered, and he turned up the heat until he was sweating underneath his heavy coat. But she sighed in pleasure, which went straight to his groin.

Down, boy. She’s your guest. Nothing more.

Matt had broken up with his girlfriend over a year ago, and he hadn’t dated much since. It didn’t help that there was a dearth of eligible women here in Heron’s Landing. He wasn’t much for hook-ups, either, so he’d remained celibate for the past twelve months.

That celibacy came to bite him in the ass right now. He’d taken one look at Holly and his body had practically jumped at her. If he weren’t so annoyed with himself, he’d laugh at how predictable he was.

Holly rubbed her arms.

Are you still cold? he asked.

I’m okay. I still can’t believe I forgot my coat. Then again, I’m not used to winters like this.

Where are you from?

She hesitated, and he wondered what she was running